Hiking Does a Body (and a soul) Good

On top of my kettlebell workouts we also hiked a lot. I averaged 15,000 steps a day. It felt amazing. The more I walk the more I am CONVINCED it is actually exercise. I never thought I would say that but my body has never felt better. Truly. Combine walking with a quality kettlebell program and you have a killer combination of strength and cardiovascular with practically 0 stress/impact on your joints.

One of my favorite hikes was up a river filled with boulders. We went there twice. Once with the kiddos and once alone.

I don’t normally hike in a bikini. That would be weird (for me) but since we were in a mountain stream and no one was around I felt comfortable.

For some reason this picture cracks me up with the flower in the foreground.

Brent loves to get in mountain streams. He calls it “refreshing”. I call it CRAZY.

But after some coaxing….

….he convinced me that I should get in.

I don’t think cold was the right word. How about PAINFUL. I will admit after I got out I did feel refreshed. Maybe hydrotherapy will grow on me.

Can’t go under it. Can’t go around it. Gotta go across it. This tree was enormous. Bigger than it looks in the picture.

Nowadays this is about as thrill seeker as I get. Hope I don’t fall off. That would be bad.

Whew we made it.

Not only did I get some quality time with Brent. Thing 2 and I got some cuddle time. He likes to call me “Cuddle Butt”. I love it.

When Weewa, aka my mom, is around I don’t get much cuddles from Thing 1.

Brent works from home so one day hiked up to the top of a hill to set up “an office”.

That about sums up our trip unless you want to see the pictures of Snow White Gone Bad.

Don’t worry I put him right back and it’s a myth that mother ducks abandone their ducklings after being touched by a human. You should have seen Mama Duck. I’m just lucky I kept my fingers.

About jennincat

I'm so happy you stopped by my little corner of the web where I write about fitness, food, and amazing women I "meet". I live in California with my wonderful husband and two rambunctious boys. I'm a personal trainer and dreamer. I enjoy most things but some of my favorites are reading, acting, camping, cooking, music, writing, traveling, and being in the moment with my favorite people! You can read more about me here! I hope you stop by often!

My wife and I recently discovered a small trail near by and we are in the “burbs”…. it was a path/bik/walk and it lead to wooded trail thru a mini forest. I’ve been back twice with my 6 yr old son and he thinks its the coolest of course. We brought the Jungle Gym – Straps & tried out some push/pull body weight exercises before bike riding on.

….and on the nature note I’ve been enjoying my trips north to a family place that is hours into the bush… I love the city… but trees, rocks, water and watching the kids take it all in is a “grounding” experience.

PS Forgot to mention. I hike all the time and love it. I usually don’t consider it a ‘workout’ BUT once I brought along my 15 pound kettle bell in a back back and every 20 minutes or so I banged out 50 or so swings. It pushed a ‘good’ workout over the edge to a ‘stellar’ workout! But a hike of any kind is definitely good for you in every.single.way.

Ahhh, I miss hiking in the mountains!! I got to do some when I was in the Canadian Rockies last month, but now I’m living in a place that’s flatflatflat. You’re right though, walking up an incline is a killer cardio workout. Nothing like hiking to let you know just how in shape you really are 😉

I love swimming in mountain streams and waterfalls too. Cold, but the water is so clean and refreshing!!

My Name Is Jenn…

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